A NEW AND REMARKAIILE (lENUS AND SPECIES OE BAT ELEA 



Aiuoug vsome bats collected by tbe IVLuseo de Historia Natural of 

 the Universidad Naciouaí de Tucimián, duriug tbe past few montbs, 

 one was found to bave a ratber large and maggot like parasite 

 attacbed to tbe inner surface oí" one its ears. Tlie attacked portion of 

 tbe ear was dissected ont and phiced in a sohition of potassium 

 bydroxide. Wben tbe skiu bad been dissolved away, tbe parasite 

 was found to be a Üea of a very peculiar type. Tbe uiaxillae were 

 remarkably long and bad been inserted to tbeir full extent into tbe 

 ear tbereby niaking tbe ñea stationary, all tbe legs, except tbe basal 

 portion (coxae) bad been lost and tlie body was greatly enlarged and 

 of a palé yellow colour. 



According to tbe key of tbe genera of Siphonaptera given by Fox 

 (Insects and Diseases of Man, 1925) tbis species sbows a cióse rela- 

 tionsbip to Tvtuja penetran^ (= DermatopsijUa penetrans and Sarcoj)- 

 sylla penetrans) . This. species, commonly known as tbe Chigoe (=Cbi- 

 co, Cbigoe, Pico, Pique, Sutlii, Bicbo dos pes, Jigger, (^bigger, Chigre, 

 ¡áandflea), is a native of tropical America and bas similar flxed i)ara- 

 sitic babits. Tbe female attacks man and a number of tbe domestic 

 animáis (pigs, dogs, etc.) usually making its way to tbe soft skin 

 between tbe toes where sbe fixes ber raoutb parts and tbe resulting 

 irritation produces a swelling wbicb compasses tbe insect except 

 for a small oi)oning nt tbe end of tbe abdomen. During tbis time ber 

 abdomen becomes greatly enlarged, assuming tbe size and sbape of 

 a small pea. Appareutly, tbe legs are always retained tbroiigbout 

 tbe life of tbe insect. 



Tbe present s])e('ies difters in a number of important respectsfrom 

 tbe Chigoe. Tbe body remains freely exi)osed tbrougbout its lile, tbe 



